New ball python owner, need help and advice

Hello everyone, I'm a new ball python owner and I think I'm having some trouble and need help. My BP is a male, about full size (3.5-4ft), got him from a friend who wasn't able to take care of him anymore. When I first got him, he was suprisingly calm, not stressed at all, and acclimated well to his new home which was a gigantic terrarium. He was always in his hides, he handled well, just a good calm snake. I wasn't able to maintain decent temp and humidity so I downsized his tank on thanksgiving (not too too small, pet store employee helped me pick it out). Ever since then he's been acting strange... Temp is about 85, humidity about 55%-60% during the day and 80-85 and 50% at night. He ate on thanksgiving for the first time with me then I put him in his new home. He moves during a day quite a bit, he doesn't stay on his hides, I offen find him moving his water dish, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Maybe he's just getting used to the new tank. Any advice/feedback? It would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the lengthy post!!

My advice if you haven't already looked through the forum is to look at all the older posts by people in your situation.

Having said that, pictures of your setup would be helpful for other members to point out potential problems as well. What are your hot/ cool side temperatures and what's your hotspot temp , what's your heatsource and how are you regulating it, where is your cage located, how often are you handeling the snake?

The best advice will come with the more accurate information you provide us about your setup. It definitely sounds like the snake is stressed out.

As above .. plus what type of thermometer do you use ?

If it's a heat mat - size of tank / size of mat / where the mat is situated etc

If it's a ceramic bulb set up - dimensions of tank including the height - where the bulb is situated : is it guarded etc

As mentioned a photo will be very helpful as well .


Oh and ideally please write in bullett points or chunks rather than a massive block of text ;)

As much info as possible will make it easier for us all to hopefully advise you ..



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So I'm having trouble uploading pictures using my phone


I have 2 thermometers that measure temp and humidity, one for each side

hot side stays around 84-88+ during daytime, 50-60% humidity

cool side is around 80 and around 50 humidity

each hide has a heat pad underneath

im using a heat lamp with a 50 watt daytime bright bulb, 45 watt blue light for night time



he seems to be doing better.. He ate last week, he pooped yesterday, he doesn't move very much. The past two days Iv noticed he moved both hides and water dish to the same place after I moved them back, very strange.

I wanna say the tank is 10x20x10

heat lamp is directly on the center of the mesh top, mesh is covered by two towels to control humidity and that's been working very well

I think I'm just worrying too much, the set up is decent. Maybe he's just getting used to his new home?

Are your heat pads regulated with a thermostat? And one for each hide is not necessary. One under the hot side that measures 90 degrees on the glass. Ambient should be 80-82. What type of thermometers? Also if you are using anything sticky inside your tank take it out. No tape and no stick on gauges! Ever! Also you don't need a daylight bulb. That tends to stress them more. Natural light during the day is fine.

Well you've obviously put a lot of time / money / effort in to things . I'm still unclear on some points tbh

Photos will certainly help - consider downloading the free TapaTalk app which is fabulous for uploading photos ( one click ) ..

As regards the thermometers / hygrometers ... do they have wired probes or are they like these ?https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...708ddb9f74.jpg



One thing I noticed about mine is that some prefer the cooler temps and will spend time in the cooler parts of their vivs which sometimes is in the mid 70's even though the suggested temp gradient - range I commonly see is 80F on the cool side up to 92F warm side ...

I'm wonderingly you maybe better having the second heat mat maybe halfway across the viv then you'll have a warm side - warmish middle and a cool end ??

You've also got two lamps in there and I'm not sure where they're situated but presumably they will be giving off more heat as well ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M.C.757

I wanna say the tank is 10x20x10

heat lamp is directly on the center of the mesh top, mesh is covered by two towels to control humidity and that's been working very well

I think I'm just worrying too much, the set up is decent. Maybe he's just getting used to his new home?

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We are also new BP owners but experienced aquarists. The dimensions you provided are consistent with a 10 gallon fish tank.

I may be wrong, but I think that a 10 gallon tank is too small for a full grown, 3.5-4 foot long BP. Before making a change, I would suggest that you wait for an experienced hobbyist to chime it. As I said... we're new at this.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Well you've obviously put a lot of time / money / effort in to things . I'm still unclear on some points tbh

Photos will certainly help - consider downloading the free TapaTalk app which is fabulous for uploading photos ( one click ) ..

As regards the thermometers / hygrometers ... do they have wired probes or are they like these ?https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...708ddb9f74.jpg



One thing I noticed about mine is that some prefer the cooler temps and will spend time in the cooler parts of their vivs which sometimes is in the mid 70's even though the suggested temp gradient - range I commonly see is 80F on the cool side up to 92F warm side ...

I'm wonderingly you maybe better having the second heat mat maybe halfway across the viv then you'll have a warm side - warmish middle and a cool end ??

You've also got two lamps in there and I'm not sure where they're situated but presumably they will be giving off more heat as well ?

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a44a42b59e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...03190ac099.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e8bc25c6dc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...de0a9106a0.jpg



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I have that right hide tucked away in a drawer collecting dust. I can assume from that how small the enclosure is plus the coffee cup is a good gauge. I also see that you have an overhead light that I assume you use for heat. I wonder if you only keep it on during the day and if so how do you retain a constant temperature range? Do you have an under tank heater? If so do you have it regulated with a thermostat?

I fear you are going to have a terrible time getting a proper thermal gradient going in that small of a tank. Add in a 4 foot snake that is going to be terribly cramped in there. I feel you are not giving this snake a big enough area to feel comfortable and stress free. The hides you do have are not adequate for a 4 foot adult (they want to feel snug as in be able to fit just right).

I fear that a 3 to 4 foot wide enclosure is more what you need.

I would trash those stick on humidy/hydrometers. Your snake can rip them off easily and get the adhesive on their skin. And they aren't the most accurate. I'd get some with probes.The tank seems small for a 3.5-4 foot snake, I'd get a bigger enclosure if I were you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M.C.757

Hello everyone, I'm a new ball python owner and I think I'm having some trouble and need help. My BP is a male, about full size (3.5-4ft), got him from a friend who wasn't able to take care of him anymore. When I first got him, he was suprisingly calm, not stressed at all, and acclimated well to his new home which was a gigantic terrarium. He was always in his hides, he handled well, just a good calm snake. I wasn't able to maintain decent temp and humidity so I downsized his tank on thanksgiving (not too too small, pet store employee helped me pick it out). Ever since then he's been acting strange... Temp is about 85, humidity about 55%-60% during the day and 80-85 and 50% at night. He ate on thanksgiving for the first time with me then I put him in his new home. He moves during a day quite a bit, he doesn't stay on his hides, I offen find him moving his water dish, I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Maybe he's just getting used to the new tank. Any advice/feedback? It would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the lengthy post!!

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Righty given that he's so active even throughout the day ( they are nocturnal and are usually asleep at that time ) and given you're been conned into buying those stick on temp gauges which are unreliable at best ( for ambient temps ) and completely useless for giving the surface temps on warm and cool sides ...I'd guess that he's far too hot and simply trying to escape to a cooler area .

If they're recording 85F on the side of the tank the surface temps could be well over a 100 ...who l knows ..


As mentioned above , maybe the enclosure could be somewhat larger but just for the moment I'd unplug and even remove the lamp/s for starters and unplug the heat mat under the cool side and just keep the heat mat under the warm side for now. That will at least give him a cool area ... Next I'd get an affordable thermostat to regulate the heat mat under the warm side and get on eBay to buy a cheap digital temp gun for around 8 to 12 dollars .... Something like the one below - the make doesn't matter they're all reasonably accurate and reliable ..

Good luck !!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...446e037529.jpg


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Righty given that he's so active even throughout the day ( they are nocturnal and are usually asleep at that time ) and given you're been conned into buying those stick on temp gauges which are unreliable at best ( for ambient temps ) and completely useless for giving the surface temps on warm and cool sides ...I'd guess that he's far too hot and simply trying to escape to a cooler area .

If they're recording 85F on the side of the tank the surface temps could be well over a 100 ...who l knows ..


As mentioned above , maybe the enclosure could be somewhat larger but just for the moment I'd unplug and even remove the lamp/s for starters and unplug the heat mat under the cool side and just keep the heat mat under the warm side for now. That will at least give him a cool area ... Next I'd get an affordable thermostat to regulate the heat mat under the warm side and get on eBay to buy a cheap digital temp gun for around 8 to 12 dollars .... Something like the one below - the make doesn't matter they're all reasonably accurate and reliable ..

Good luck !!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...446e037529.jpg


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So I took a lot of advice and did a reading and here's what I got.

I'm using a bigger tank (the one that came with him, didn't buy)

I'm using daytime and nighttime bulbs, keeping the lamp on one side for temp gradient which is working very well

I have a spray bottle w/ water for humidity, also towels on top of mesh for keeping humidity

Gonna buy new therms soon, with probes.

All in all he seems to like the new big tank a lot more. He doesn't seem as stressed. Next step is new substrait to retain moisture, new therms w/ probes, timed dual heat lamp, and replacing the smaller hides. Thanks everyone!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2dccb0e588.jpg


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by M.C.757

So I took a lot of advice and did a reading and here's what I got.

I'm using a bigger tank (the one that came with him, didn't buy)

I'm using daytime and nighttime bulbs, keeping the lamp on one side for temp gradient which is working very well

I have a spray bottle w/ water for humidity, also towels on top of mesh for keeping humidity

Gonna buy new therms soon, with probes.

All in all he seems to like the new big tank a lot more. He doesn't seem as stressed. Next step is new substrait to retain moisture, new therms w/ probes, timed dual heat lamp, and replacing the smaller hides. Thanks everyone!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2dccb0e588.jpg


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looking better. You'll still need to get a thermostat to regulate your heat mats.

Quick question. Do you know the difference between a Thermometer and a Thermostat?

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Yeah , I'm sure you'll soon have everything running sweetly .

I'd also buy some cheap plastic plants / foliage from the local dollar shops and get some nice branches from any nearby parks or woods . There is an awful lot of open space in there and Royals love climbing in the evening !


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pezz

looking better. You'll still need to get a thermostat to regulate your heat mats.

Quick question. Do you know the difference between a Thermometer and a Thermostat?

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Thermometers measure temperature and thermostats control temperature right?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Yeah , I'm sure you'll soon have everything running sweetly .

I'd also buy some cheap plastic plants / foliage from the local dollar shops and get some nice branches from any nearby parks or woods . There is an awful lot of open space in there and Royals love climbing in the evening !


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Ill keep that in mind! Thanks for the input


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